Already reeling Giants suspend Rodgers-Cromartie

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. » The New York Giants suspended veteran Dominque RodgersCromartie after the cornerback left the team’s facilities before practice on Wednesday.

Coach Ben McAdoo announced the indefinite suspension after practice.

The second-year coach had met with RodgersCromartie on Tuesday and told him that he would not be active for this Sunday’s game in Denver because of something the 31-year-old either said or did during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.

Rodgers-Cromartie had left the bench and gone to the locker room during the second half, but he later returned. It is not known if the two exchanged words during the game. There was no apparent physical altercation.

McAdoo told the 10-year veteran who joined the Giants in 2014 that he still expected him to practice this week and prepare for the game even though he was not going to play.

Rodgers-Cromartie, who had started three games, reported to the Giants headquarters Wednesday morning and then left. Roosevelt Barnes, his agent, did not return a telephone call.

Teammates said “DRC” had a smile on his face Wednesday morning and they did not sense anything was amiss until he was not on the field for practice.

Cowboys release Nolan Carroll

FRISCO, TEXAS » The Dallas Cowboys have released cornerback Nolan Carroll, the second significant free agent let go this season.

Carroll left a loss at Denver in Week 2 with a concussion and didn’t play again before Wednesday’s move. The eighth-year player practiced last week but was inactive in a loss to Green Bay.

The Cowboys released defensive tackle Cedric Thornton before the start of the regular season. Thornton was Dallas’ biggest free agent signing in 2016, and Carroll was the biggest this year. Both came from the Eagles.

Carroll signed a $10 million, three-year contract in March with $3 million guaranteed.

Thornton was in the second year of a four-year, $17 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.

Ditka apologizes

CHICAGO » Mike Ditka has apologized for saying he wasn’t aware any racial oppression over the last 100 years in the United States.

The famed Chicago Bears coach came under fire for making the comments during a radio interview on Monday about NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. He issued an apology the next day, saying he was talking about professional football and not society as a whole.